Blindly Forgotten

Damage Control 16

Damage Control

_____________________

~~~~~~~~

16

I was cold. My head was pounding a disjointed rythem in my ears that made me sick. Still I sat up against the nausea and groaned.

Aden laid still, though his skin looked tanned, healthy even. I looked over his body freely, trying not to take advantage of the moment despite wanting to do just that.

I reached forward to touch his face, the skin warm and inviting under my fingertips.

His breathing changed, became more settled, less shallow. I refused to dwell on impossible meanings for the change.

I looked around my shambled home, and glared.

There had been a bomb set in that room. A bomb with my name on it. Fate had made sure it missed me, but I had a good guess on who had set that trap.

After all, I can't think of anyone would would smell like a hospital and vanilla other than the young little nurse maid with the glaring eyes. I scowled.

Oh, messing with a Goddess. I could almost laugh at the stupidity. Even then, I still needed a new house.

I pondered this while brushing through my charges dark locks. His midnight colored hair felt strangely soft under my palms. A welcome change.

~~~

"Thank you again for allowing me and my brother to stay here while you fix my home." I whispered, channeling my voice to let the seduction work it's magic.

"Ma'am, I am happy to have such a talented sucker - I mean singer living with me." His words entered my ears, and his thoughts painted a rather disturbing picture that I smile and nodded at anyway.

"I'm sorry your heater blew your house up, but I'll have it fixed for you in a jiffy!" I nodded even as I mentally questioned his age. Jiffy? Who says jiffy?

"Thanks again. So can you give me a fair estimate?" I asked him.

He looked me up and down and shrugged. "Four grand, and I'll eat the rest if you'll go on a date. Just one night, you; me, a dance floor and a hotel room with a bottle of wine and a hot tub with some candles."

I blinked even as Aden sat sleeping peacefully on the couch behind me. The man was attractive, I'll allow that. He was much taller, stronger and bigger than me, but he was no Aspen. Despite that, I shrugged.

"I'm saving myself for marriage, but I'll gladly go on a date with you." I told him, layering on my voice real thick for his benefit.

"A pretty young thing like you will go fast, darlin. Good for you," Though he lowered his voice I still caught the last words. "Not so great for me. Cant a guy catch a break?" I chuckled under my breath even as doubt made me blush. Too bad confidence wasn't part of the deal. I suppose it helped keep me grounded to the situation. Or maybe it's guilt. I wasn't sure. It didn't matter anyhow.

"So, how long do you think it will take you?" I asked the man. He shrugged.

"A month to six at the most. A lot of damage was caused to you home Ma'am." I nodded even as it made me feel sick. I sighed before closing my door on him. Though it did nothing seeing as how there was a gaping hole in the wall. He left quickly, but promised to return to take me where I needed to go. I guess he thought my car needed some work as well.

Despite the disaster, I still wanted Aden to be comfortable, so I covered him with the only blanket that hadn't been in my room. Good thing he was blind or the pink and yellow cover might have freaked him out.

There was a reason it was in the closet. Too bad it came out.

That night after having to explain the Aden, my 'brother' the circumstance I laid in the guest bedroom and cried. For whatever reason theret was, I had to have deserved this. But that didn't mean I wasn't fighting back. I smiled even as I sobbed. 'Bitch, payback is my very own kind of tough love. Just you wait.'